dampen

1 of 2

verb

damp·​en ˈdam-pən 

dampened; dampening ˈdamp-niŋ 

ˈdam-pə-

transitive verb

1

: to check or diminish the activity or vigor of : deaden

the heat dampened our spirits

2

: to make damp

the shower barely dampened the ground

3

: damp sense 1c

intransitive verb

1

: to become damp

2

: to become deadened or depressed

dampener

ˈdamp-nər 

ˈdam-pə-

noun

dampener

2 of 2

noun

damp·​en·​er ˈdam-pə-nər 

plural -s

: one that dampens: such as

a

: a device for dampening cloth (as in a laundry)

b

: a worker that dampens articles in preparation for further processing:

(1)

: one that tempers shoe outsoles to facilitate cutting, shaping, and stitching

called also muller

(2)

: one that dampens textiles (as hosiery or cloth) for boarding or ironing

(3)

: one that softens hides in warm water

c

: a device for retarding the oscillations of a spring when a load is suddenly applied or removed

d

: any of the rollers on an offset printing press that convey water to nonprinting areas of the printing surface

Synonyms of dampen

Verb

• moisten
• damp
• wet
• rinse
• wash
• flush

Examples of dampen in a Sentence

Verb

Dampen the spot with a wet cloth.

The shower barely dampened the ground.

We wouldn't let the bad weather dampen our excitement.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Aulton recommends using a soft microfiber cloth dampened with tepid water to gently clean both the tops and undersides of the leaves. — Colleen Sullivan, Martha Stewart, 21 July 2026

Tariff volatility has been an issue, particularly for brands and manufacturers over-reliant on China, while regulation continues to dampen progress around smart glasses owing to EU delays around AI compliance, Cazin adds. — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 20 July 2026

While the current fires continue to burn, the National Weather Service forecast shows the eastern United States can expect rain, which could help dampen harmful air for now. — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 18 July 2026

Product removals can typically dampen consumer demand for weeks to months. — Jaewon Kang, Fortune, 18 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1547, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for dampen

• rifampin

Kids Definition

dampen

verb

damp·​en ˈdam-pən 

dampened; dampening ˈdamp-(ə-)niŋ 

1

: to check or lessen in activity or vigor : deaden

2

: to make or become damp

dampener

ˈdamp-(ə-)nər 

noun